St John Damascene on Holy Images (πρὸς τοὺς διαβάλλοντας τᾶς ἁγίας εἰκόνας). Followed by Three Sermons on the Assumption (κοίμησις)

In this newly translated treatise, the great 8th‑century theologian St John Damascene confronts the fierce iconoclast movement that sought to ban sacred pictures from churches. Writing with the eloquence of a seasoned apologist, he explains why holy images are not idols but vital aids that point the faithful toward the invisible God, whose very incarnation is itself an image made flesh. The work places his arguments within the wider debates of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, showing how the defense of icons became a cornerstone of Christian doctrine.

The accompanying three sermons celebrate the Assumption of the Mother of God, presenting it as the crowning affirmation of her unique role in salvation history. Damascene weaves theological insight with vivid devotional language, illustrating how the veneration of Mary connects believers to the divine mystery and underscores the communion of saints. Listeners will gain a clear sense of the early Church’s struggle to balance reverence for the material with devotion to the transcendent, all rendered in accessible, compelling prose.